2 senators squabble over allegations of ‘whitewash’

A heated exchange transpired between Senators Antonio Trillanes 4th and Juan Miguel Zubiri during the plenary session Tuesday when Trillanes alleged that Zubiri and Sen. Richard Gordon are trying to “whitewash” the proposed senate investigation into the bribery scandal involving two immigration officials.

SESSION SUSPENDED Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Antonio Trillanes 4th nearly come to blows after a heated exchange on the Senate floor. Trillanes accused Zubiri of attempting to cover up the bribery scandal at the Bureau of Immigration. PHOTO BY JUN ANICETA

Trillanes, in a television interview Tuesday, claimed that there were efforts to prevent the passage of a resolution calling for a reorganization of the Bureau of Immigration in connection with the P50 million bribery scandal that also dragged the name of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd. The resolution was to be referred to the committee on civil service and government reorganization, which he currently heads.

“Now that they (Zubiri and Gordon) will be the ones to handle the hearing, they can whitewash the investigation like what happened to the senate inquiry on extrajudicial killings recently,” Trillanes said.

During the session, Zubiri took the floor to deny the allegation and denounced Trillanes for making such claims against his colleagues in the Senate.

He noted that in his nine years as a member of the House of Representatives and four years in the Senate, he was never accused of “whitewashing,” “stonewalling” or “stopping” any investigation.

“I don’t care. If they want to investigate, investigate. If they want to raise hell in their committee, I don’t care. My intention was just to discuss rules,” Zubiri said.

During Monday’s session, Zubiri questioned the referral of the resolution filed by Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon to Trillanes’ committee when it should have been referred to the committee on justice and human rights chaired by Gordon.

“I will never be a part of any whitewash. I take offense on that Mr. President,” Zubiri said.

After Zubiri’s speech, Trillanes took the floor and stood by his allegation against the senators saying: “I’m glad that the gentleman took offense because in fact, the statement is meant to be offensive. So at least he feels something.”

Trillanes also took issue with Zubiri’s statement that he has never been accused of any impropriety and brought up the 2007 election cheating issue and said: “He, in fact resigned from the Senate because he was proven to have cheated during the 2007 elections.”

Trillanes then told Zubiri that if he wants to declare war they he should be prepared for war.
Zubiri then retorted: “I did not become a world champion of arnis for nothing.”

After the heated exchanges, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd, who was presiding at the session, moved for a suspension to ease the tension between the two senators.

When the session resumed Zubiri and Trillanes shook hands.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd then moved that all hurtful statements between the two senators be stricken off the record.

Trillanes is gay in opening his mouth to unsavory statement to pretend he is a tough man. He tried it against Sen. Enrile who called him “COWARD’, Gordon who called him “SUNDALONG KANIN,”, Cayetano and now Zubiri. But as results showed, the coward sundalong kanin just shake hands with the opponents. I suggest, to clear any doubt if this Senator Trillanes is tough or not is have him inside the ring with Sen. Zubiri. Satnd your ground if you are dauntless. Have a 3-round boxing bout with Sen. Zubiri or acknowledge that you are Mr. Coward. Hahahahaha

Trillanes deserves a punch on the mouth, not a shake hand..I just hope Pacquiao will give him a punch.
These other senators are a bunch of bakla..why forgive and forget what this traitor Trillanes has done..gago

Trillanes is nothing but a traitor and an opportunist, he should be expelled from the senate together with Delima these two are the most corrupt senators in the senate house. Trillanes a basagulero” Delima Drug protector and a whore.